I have risen from the dead, and with a post about my thoughts on the shows this season as we’re already halfway through a lot of them. I’m actually watching a lot of shows this season, and there’s more I still want to watch. Just…don’t have the time. It seems to be a strong season though, and here’s what I think.
Cross Game- 6/? episodes watched. I’m quite enjoying this series. It’s very emotionally powerful, and doesn’t fail to tug at my heartstrings. The romantic tension is killing me. Still, I can’t help but wonder just how much time are we going to spend on the dead girl, and how many flashbacks can we possibly have about her? She only lived to be in fifth grade, they’ve got to run out of memories. I’m hoping to see more baseball in this series as well, as I’m a bit of a fan, and there are some cool things in there. Chalk machine smoke screen anyone?
Eden of the East- 6/11 episodes watched. Like everyone and their mom, I’m watching this show. But what can I say, it’s a great true and Akira is a fantastic character. I’m worried a little at this point about whether the series will be able to end strongly, or are we going to get a cop out ending. We’ve still got five episdoes, so just have to wait and see…
Hatsukoi Limited-5/12 episodes watched. This is such a fun series, and I really enjoy it. What I love about this series is how each episode it’s in own little short story, yet they’re all interconnected with each other. So far they’ve been pretty good little stories, although I didn’t like episode 5 much. Dumb story about boobs is dumb. I really like the opening and closing for this series especially, I always get the ending stuck in my head.
K-On-7/13 episodes watched. My guilty pleasure. I won’t sit down and say it’s the best show of the season, but I really like it. Part of this is really helped by the characters, while they don’t have complex personalities, each character reminds me of one of my friends who is graduating this year. Except for Yui…because Yui reminds me of myself. High sentimental value there.
Natsu no Arashi- 6/13 episodes. Pass the salt! This is really the hidden gem of the season. A terrible first episode, but after that the series got much better, and develops a surprising deep side for a show of this nature as well as interesting premise. Much much better then Maria Holic, and also has a crossdresser.
The opening however. Oh, the opening…
Pandora’s Heart-6/25 Standard shonen faire, I have a bit of a crush on Alice so I keep watching. All in all though, it’s a bit of a letdown due to the art being horribly cheap and crappy, and really what’s ruining the show for me. If the art was better, this would be a very engaging show, but as it is, it’s fail. In the winter season, this may have stood out, but with a season this strong it’s easily being left behind by the other fantastic shows.
Overall though, a good season.
Pandora Hearts art annoys you yet no mention of the art in Cross Game? Whenever a character stands still in that show saying nothing, my eyes are instantly drawn to their humungus ears.
Have to agree with you on Natsu no Arashi. We even got to see the salt guys face in the last episode!
Probably because I really like the art in cross game. It’s imperfect and definitely has it’s flaws, but it’s charming in a weird sort of way.
Keep in mind that Cross Game is originally a manga that is done by a seasoned mangaka whom has an instantly recognizable style in both storytelling and art. His storytelling strongly relies in the ‘timing’ of manga and all its strengths. This is probably why the animation comes off as feeling stiff/odd because it tries too hard to capture the feel of the manga when it should be forming its own identity… but alas these are fairly iconic characters they are dealing with here
Perhaps it’s also because for Pandora Hearts, the animation standard is more obvious. It’s all over the screen. I agree it would have been much better if they put a little more effort in the animation, maybe more variation in their color palettes. The colors look dull and shaded most of the time.
Hmm… Yes, Natsu no Arashi is indeed a hidden gem. I almost gave up after watching Ep 1 but I’m glad I hung on somehow. The other spring season dark horse for me would be Asura Cryin’. ^^
That does make sense.
I think for Pandora’s Hearts it was also a case of “Well, we’re a popular manga. People are going to watch regardless!”
*sigh*